A “hell heron” – described as a fearsome reptile with a hunting style like the modern-day bird – is one of two new species of dinosaur discovered in the UK, scientists announced on Wednesday.
The carnivores roamed what is now the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England, 125 million years ago.
They are thought to have been about nine metres long with crocodile-like skulls.
The discovery comes after scientists found remains of one of the largest new dinosaur species in Australia, in June.
One expert hailed the discovery of the two Isle of Wight specimens in quick succession as a “huge surprise”, but said palaeontologists had suspected for decades that such fossils could be found on the island.
The haul of bones was discovered on the beach near the village of Brighstone over a period of several years.
Scientists say they relate to two new species of Spinosaurid, a group of predatory theropods – dinosaurs characterised by hollow bones and three-toed feet.
The family includes the giant Spinosaurus – which may have reached 18m in length.
More than 50 bones from the site have been uncovered from rocks that form part of the Wessex Formation – fossil-rich English geological formation – laid down more than 125 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period.
“This work has brought together universities, the Dinosaur Isle museum [in the Isle of Wight] and the public to reveal these amazing dinosaurs and the incredibly diverse ecology of the south coast of England 125 million years ago,” said Dr Neil J Gostling of the University of Southampton, who supervised the project.
The only Spinosaurid skeleton previously unearthed in the UK belonged to a different branch of the family, Baryonyx. That was discovered in 1983 in Surrey, south-east England.
Most other finds since have been restricted to isolated teeth and single bones.
We've known for a couple of decades now that Baryonyx-like dinosaurs awaited discovered on the Isle of Wight, but finding the remains of two such animals in close succession was a huge surprise
Darren Naish,
study co-author
Analysis of the Isle of Wight bones carried out at the University of Southampton and published in peer-review journal Scientific Reports suggested they belonged to species of dinosaurs previously unknown to science.
“We found the skulls to differ not only from Baryonyx but also one another, suggesting the UK housed a greater diversity of Spinosaurids than previously thought,” said Chris Barker, a PhD student at the University of Southampton and lead author of the study.
Co-author Darren Naish, an expert in British theropod dinosaurs, said the discovery of Spinosaurid dinosaurs on the Isle of Wight was a long time coming.
“We've known for a couple of decades now that Baryonyx-like dinosaurs awaited discovered on the Isle of Wight, but finding the remains of two such animals in close succession was a huge surprise.”
Heron a hellish sight
The first specimen has been named Ceratosuchops inferodios, which translates as the “horned crocodile-faced hell heron".
While the animal had series of low horns and bumps ornamenting the brow region, the name also refers to its likely hunting style, which would have been similar to that of a heron, said researchers.
Herons usually hunt around the margins of waterways, standing completely still before stabbing their prey – often fish or amphibians – with their long, sharp beak.
The second was named Riparovenator milnerae, which translates as “Milner's riverbank hunter”, in honour of esteemed British palaeontologist Dr Angela Milner, who died recently.
Dr Milner had previously studied and named Baryonyx, improving understanding of these predators.
The Early Cretaceous rocks on the Isle of Wight reveal evidence of an ancient floodplain environment with a Mediterranean-like climate.
While generally balmy, forest fires occasionally ravaged the landscape, and the fossilised remains of burnt wood can be seen throughout the cliffs today.
With a large river and other bodies of water, the habitat would have provided the newly discovered Spinosaurids with plenty of hunting opportunities.
The fossils will go on display at Dinosaur Isle Museum, at Sandown in the Isle of Wight.
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Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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Antonio Muñoz Molina
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Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
